Electrode type vapor generator



1966 H. H. MORRISON 3,

ELECTRODE TYPE VAPOR GENERATOR Filed June 15, 1964 IN VEN TOR HARRY H. MORRISON BYWM ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,280,300 ELECTRDDE TYPE VAPOR GENERATOR Harry H. Morrison, Cambridge Hotel, Rm. 610, 333 W. 86th St., New York, NY. Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 374,968 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-287) This invention relates generally to vaporization, and is especially concerned with a unique method and apparatus for electrically generating vapor.

The method and apparatus of the present invention are primarily concerned with electrical generation of vapor by the immersion of electrodes in a liquid, optionally including an electrolyte, wherein the heat of electrical resistance through the liquid raises the temperature thereof to its point of boiling or vaporization. Since in this particular instance, the cross-sectional area of the electrodes as well as the distance between them are fixed, the amount of current generated and consequently the rate of vaporization will be directly proportional to the depth of immersion of the electrodes in the liquid.

Heretofore, it was conventional to control the rate of vaporization by raising and lowering the liquid level relative to the containing vessel and electrodes, to thereby vary the amount of electrode immersion in the liquid. This required relatively complex and expensive equipment, usually including an additional compartment or vessel into which and from which liquid was forced by means of various valves and other devices to achieve the desired raising or lowering of liquid level.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for electrically vaporizing liquid which greatly simplifies the necessary equipment, enhances reliability of operation, and permits of a simpler and smaller structure at considerable savings in cost, and with more positive and accurate control.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevational view of the apparatus of the instant invention as seen along line 11 on FIGURE 2, in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken generally along the line 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a partial sectional elevational view similar to FIGURE 1, but somewhat enlarged for clarity.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURE 1 thereof, a pressure vessel or tank is there generally designated and may be of any suitable configuration, such as the illustrated, vertically elongate generally cylindrical tank. The lower region of the vessel 10 may be provided with a liquid inlet 11, while a vapor outlet 12 may be provided in an upper vessel region. Suitable connections for supply of liquid through inlet 11 and withdrawal of vapor through outlet 12 have been omitted from the drawing.

Suitable means may also be provided for maintaining liquid 13 in the vessel 10 at a desired level 14. Such liquid-level control means is diagrammatically represented at 15 and may be a liquid level flow switch, a float type, or any other desired type.

One or more electrode assemblies 21 each comprising a plurality of electrodes generally designated depend into the pressure vessel or boiler 10. While three electrodes are illustrated, in one assembly, it is obvious that two may be employed for a single-phase electrical system, while three are necessary in a three-phase system. Any number of such elect-rode assemblies as may be required, may be used in a single pressure vessel or boiler.

Mounting means is provided for the electrode assemblies 21 to mount the latter for up-and-down movement relative to the liquid level in vessel 10. The mounting means may include an elongate, generally vertical cylinder 22 having its opposite ends open and fixed to an upper region of the vessel 10 with the lower cylinder end depending into the vessel. The cylinder 22 provides a guide for a carrying member or piston 23 slidable in the cylinder. The piston 23 may include suitable sealing means, such as piston rings 24 maintaining an effective seal with the interior of cylinder 22 while permitting up-and-down movement of the piston within and relative to the cylinder. Fixed in the cylinder 22, preferably at the lower end thereof, may be an abutment member or stop ring 26, while a coil compression spring 25 may be located axially within the cylinder 22 with its lower and upper ends respectively engaging the abutment member 26 and piston 23 to resiliently urge the latter upward.

The upper end of cylinder 22 is fixed in the top wall of vessel 10 by means of an annular, internally threaded nipple or ring 30, which may be welded to the vessel, and a generally cylindrical sleeve or tube 31 threaded into the nipple 30 and upstanding thereform. The upper end of cylinder 22 may be force fit or otherwise fixedly secured within the lower end of sleeve 31. A stop member or retaining pin 32 may extend transversely through a wall portion of sleeve 31 for limiting engagement with the upper side of piston 23, to positively determine the uppermost position thereof.

Seated on and extending across the upper end of sleeve 31 may be a cover plate 33, which may be fastened in position by a locking ring 34 seated on the upper peripheral margin of the cover plate and depending circumferentially thereabout. The locking ring may be threadedly secured externally to the sleeve 31 to effectively clamp the cover plate 33 in position.

While an assembly of three electrodes has been shown, the individual electrodes are substantially identical, so that a detailed description of one will suflice and be representative of all.

It should be appreciated that the cover plate 33, and piston 23 may each be fabricated of plastic or other suitable electrical-insulating material, to thereby electrically isolate the several electrodes 20 from each other and from the surrounding structure.

Each electrode assembly 21 may include a plurality of electrode rods 35, which may be of iron or other suitable material disposed vertically in spaced relation within the cylinder 22 and may have a protective non-conductive tip 36, as of plastic, on its lower end. A hollow conductive tube 37 may be fixed to and extend upward from the upper end of electrode rod 35 to the piston 23. The conductive tube 37 is secured to the piston 23 by a conductive sleeve 38 fixed in the piston and having its lower end threadedly receiving the upper end of the tube 37. The upper end of sleeve 38 may project upward beyond the piston 23 and there be provided with upwardly extending conductive strips or brushes 39. That is, the sleeve 38 is conductive and in secured contacting engagement with the conductive tube 37; and further, the conductive strips or brushes 39 are secured in contact with the sleeve 38, as by suitable fasteners 40.

A conductive rod 41 extends downward through the cover plate 33 axially of each electrode 20 and enters spacedly through the associated sleeve 38 and tube 37. Each rod 41 may be fixed to the plate 33 by locknuts 42 or other suitable means, and provided with suitable electrical terminal connection 43 by an additional locknut 44. The brushes 39 are slidably held in contact with the intermediate rod 41 by a resilient band 45, say of rubber or other suitable material.

In addition, an airor other fluid-supply line 50 is connected through sleeve 31 to the interior thereof between cover plate 33 and piston 23. The fluid line 50 includes an on-otf, three-way valve 51, upstream thereof being a pressure regulator 52 which is connected by a fluid conduit 53 to a suitable source of fluid under pressure. A pressure gauge 54 may be connected to the regulator 52.

In operation, the liquid 13 is maintained at a predetermined, substantially constant level 14 by the liquid-level control 15. The desired vapor pressure in vessel is obtained by admitting fluid or air under a corresponding pressure through conduit 53, regulator 52, valve 51 and conduit 50 to the interior of sleeve 31. This fluid pressure is observable on gauge 54 and includes additional pressure to allow for friction and resistance of spring 25.

Upon fluid pressure in sleeve 31 sufiicient to move piston 23 downward, the electrodes 20 are further immersed in liquid 13 and more vapor is generated in the vessel 10. Vapor pressure in the vessel effects an upward force on the underside of piston 23 to withdraw or reduce the extent of electrode immersion. This reduces the rate of vapor generation and the pressure of generated vapor so that an equilibrium condition will be approached.

The above condition assumed a constant demand for vapor. However, if demand increases or decreases, this reduces or increases, respectively, the vapor pressure in vessel 10 to effect greater or less immersion of electrodes 20 and correspondingly greater or less generation of vapor.

The instant method and apparatus also accommodate for line surges and current fluctuations in power supply which may vary current between electrodes. This increases or decreases generation of vapor, which is compensated for by upward or downward electrode movement to respectively decrease or increase vapor generation.

Operation may be concluded by merely turning valve 51 to its off position to dump or remove fluid under pressure from within sleeve 31. The piston 23 is, therefore, free to move upward under the influence of spring 25 to its limiting position engaging stop 32, in which condition the electrodes 20 are withdrawn from the liquid 13.

Also, in the absence of liquid in the vessel 10, the circuit between electrodes 20 is open to provide a completely fail-safe operation.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a method and apparatus for generating vapor which is fully automatic and self-regulating under all conditions, being of the modulating or continuous type,

rather than on-off, for smooth operation, and which otherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Electrode vaporizer apparatus comprising a pressure vessel for containing liquid and having a liquid inlet and a vapor outlet, liquid-level control means for maintaining a desired liquid level in said vessel, cylinder means fixed relative to said vessel and having an open end depending interiorly of said vessel, piston means slidable up and down in said cylinder means, a plurality of electrodes carried by said piston means for movement therewith and depending into said vessel, each said electrode being provided with a structure comprising a hollow elec trically conductive tube secured to a conductive sleeve which is fixed in said piston, the upper end of said sleeve projecting beyond the piston and there provided with upwardly extending electrically conductive brush means which yield-ingly embrace and are slidable relative to an electrically conductive rod which extends axially downward through said sleeve and into said hollow tube for electrically connecting each of the electrodes to a source of power, and adjustable pressure means for urging said piston downwardly, whereby the pressure in said vessel of vapor electrically generated by immersion of said electrodes effects movement of said piston means upwardly to reduce immersion of said electrodes and thereby control the generation of vapor.

2. Electrode vaporizer apparatus according to claim 1, in combination with a fiuid chamber communicating with said cylinder means on the upper side of said piston means and defining said pressure means.

3. Electrode vaporizer apparatus according to claim 1, in combination with resilient means operatively connected between said cylinder and piston means and normally urging the latter upward.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,578 5/1929 Weiss 219--287 X 2,428,714 10/ 1947 Livingstone 21 9287 2,468,244 4/1949 Steen 2l9287 2,568,372 9/1951 Steen 219--287 2,812,416 11/1957 Steen 219-287 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,198 2/1945 Sweden.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Primary Examiner. 

1. ELECTRODE VAPORIZER APPARATUS COMPRISING A PRESSURE VESSEL FOR CONTAINING LIQUID AND HAVING A LIQUID INLET AND A VAPOR OUTLET, LIQUID-LEVEL CONTROL MEANS FOR MAINTAINING A DESIRED LIQUID LEVEL IN SAID VESSEL, CYLINDER MEANS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID VESSEL AND HAVING AN OPEN END DEPENDING INTERIORLY OF SAID VESSEL, PISTON MEANS SLIDABLE UP AND DOWN IN SAID CYLINDER MEANS, A PLURALITY OF ELECTRODES CARRIED BY SAID PISTON MEANS FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND DEPENDING INTO SAID VESSEL, EACH SAID ELECTRODE BEING PROVIDED WITH A STRUCTURE COMPRISING A HOLLOW ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE TUBE SECURED TO A CONDUCTIVE SLEEVE WHICH IS FIXED IN SAID PISTON, THE UPPER END OF SAID SLEEVE PROJECTING BEYOND THE PISTON AND THERE PROVIDED WITH UPWARDLY EXTENDING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BRUSH MEANS WHICH YIELDINGLY EMBRACE AND ARE SLIDABLE RELATIVE TO AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE ROD WHICH EXTENDS AXIALLY DOWNWARD THROUGH SAID SLEEVE AND INTO SAID HOLLOW TUBE FOR ELECTRICALLY CONNECTING EACH OF THE ELECTRODES TO A SOURCE OF POWER, AND ADJUSTABLE PRESSURE MEANS FOR URGING SAID PISTON DOWNWARDLY, WHEREBY THE PRESSURE IN SAID VESSEL OF VAPOR ELECTRICALLY GENERATED BY IMMERSION OF SAID ELECTRODES EFFECTS MOVEMENT OF SAID PISTON MEANS UPWARDLY TO REDUCE IMMERSION OF SAID ELECTRODES AND THEREBY CONTROL THE GENERATION OF VAPOR. 